County crime rate up slightly in 2011
July 10, 2012
According to the Idaho State Police 2011 Crime Report, there were 298 total criminal offenses last year in Boundary County, up eight offenses from the year before but considerably lower than 2009, when 338 offenses were tallied.

There were also more arrests in the county last year compared to the year before, with 342 arrests in 2011 compared 339; both years being the lowest in the last five years.

The Boundary County Sheriffs Office handled 193 offenses in 2011, the same as in 2010. Of those, 76 offenses, or 39.4 percent, were cleared. The sheriffs office made 151 arrests in 2011, compared to 138 in 2010, an increase of 9.4 percent. In the past five years, 2009 had the highest number of offenses with 207.

In major crimes, theft and burglary led the way, both among the hardest type cases to clear. Last year, there were 47 burglaries, with four cleared, and 42 larcenies, with six cleared.

There was one murder committed in Boundary County in 2011, that of Anna Old, 43, whose body was found November 4 in the Naples home she shared with John Funkhauser, 63, who reported the crime and will soon stand trial for her death, to which he confessed.

There were eight aggravated assaults with seven cleared, five motor vehicle thefts, none cleared, 34 simple assaults with 27 cleared and one count of intimidation, not yet cleared.

There were 22 cases of vandalism, three cleared, 19 drug cases, 17 cleared, and five cases involving drug equipment, all cleared. One count of fraud, still waiting to be cleared, one possession of stolen property, which has been cleared and two weapons violations, both cleared.

In sex-related crimes, there were five cases of forced fondling, three of which are cleared.

Of all the cases cleared, 43 were adults, eight were juveniles.

In "Group B" arrests, there were 25 DUIs made by the sheriff's office in 2011, five liquor law arrests, one arrest for a non-violent family offense, and eight for trespassing.

The City of Bonners Ferry Police Department saw an increase in total offenses in 2011 compared to the tear before, with 105 last year compared to 97 in 2010. Last year saw the fewest city arrests in five years, with 191 in 2011 and 201 in 2010. The most arrests came in 2007, when 294 were made.

Most of the major crimes committed in the city last year were for drugs and narcotics, with 31 cases, all of which were cleared. There were 25 offenses involving drug equipment, again all cleared. Of 105 major crimes in the city, 86 or 81.9 percent, were cleared.

Of the cases still pending resolution, it's crimes involving theft that account for most; of 18 counts of larceny, six have been cleared, with five motor vehicle thefts, only one has been cleared.

There were two cases each of burglary and aggravated assault, all cleared, two counts of forgery, both cleared, and five cases of vandalism, two cleared. There was one case of embezzlement, cleared, and two weapon law violations, both cleared.

There was one case of statutory rape in the city of Bonners Ferry in 2011, which was cleared.

In "Group B" arrests in the city, DUI led the way with 42. There was one case of disorderly conduct, four of public drunkenness, one non-violent family offenses, eight liquor law violations and one case of trespassing.